The city of Is according to Father Toussaint de Saint-Luc

English trans. Erik Stohellou
© 2011 Erik Stohellou

(pp. 152-153)

e still see today along the bay of Douarnenez, when the tide is low & away, the ruins of a large city, which is traditionally held to have been submerged at the beginning of the fifth century, in the days of King Grallon, which avoided this danger by a miracle. It is said she was called IS, but few authors talk about it in a positive way, as if what God wanted to remove from the world, must also be erased from human memory, there is only the tradition & these sad monuments that can persuade us. It is true that some very old legends tell the story, as we say in its place, with the just discernment we must do.

(pp. 239-240)

From there one enters the great bay of Douarnenez, which is between the headland of Cheure & the headland of Ras of Fontenay, distant from each other by about 5 leagues & a half by sea, which makes this bay exposed to strong winds from the south & south-west. One still shows in this place when the tide is low, the ruins of an ancient city, one says 'tis called Is, & have been thrown in abyss during the reign of Grallon, which avoids this danger by a divine revelation, made to S. Gwenole.

Sources : Father Toussaint de Saint-Luc, L'histoire de Conan Mériadec qui fait le premier règne de l'histoire générale des souverains de la Bretagne gauloise, dite Armorique : avec la première partie des recherches générales de cette province. Saint-Brieuc, L. Prud'homme, 1664